The first shipment of single-dose Chinese coronavirus vaccine will arrive in Pakistan on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

As many as 70,000 doses of China's CanSino Biologics Inc's vaccine Convidecia will land in Pakistan on Thursday. Out of 70,000, 60,000 doses are said to be purchased by the Government of Pakistan, reported the TV channel quoting officials.

The remaining 10,000 doses were purchased by a private pharmaceutical company named AJM Pharma, which will provide the vaccine to three private hospitals in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

The AJM Pharma will dispense these 10,000 doses to Shifa International, Aga Khan Hospital and Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.

The other day Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had fixed the price of the single-dose Chinese vaccine at Rs4,225.

According to the officials, the Government of Pakistan is considering vaccinating elderly people at their homes.

Reporter Kiyfayat Ali Shah